Improvement in writing-desk and tale combined



i Nrrnn STATES ATnNr FFICE@ JOHN WHITE, OF MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.

IIVIPROVEMENT IN WRITING-DESK AND TABLE CQVIBINED.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4,252, dated November l, 1845; antedatcd July 18, 1845. Y

.To all 1071/0712, t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN VHITE, of Marshall, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful portable folding escritoire, drawing-tables, drawers, eases, &c., called XVhites Mani fold Vriting-Desk and Drawing-Table, 7 which is described as follows, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification.

Figure lis a perspective view of the eX- terior and internal escritoires or desks, for1ning a pieeeof furniture resembling a table, with the leaves extended. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, the internal escritoire or desk being raised, so as to bring its bottom nearly on a level with the external escritoire or desk, exposing to view the drawers, pigeon-holes, divisions for paper.I books, tc., and the leaves extended horizontally, forining tables, desks, &c. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, showing the catches on the rods, the horizontal springbars, vertical plates of metal, &c. Fig. 4L is a perspective view of the turning-catches, spring, and eord.

The external cscritoire or desk consists of a rectangular frame, A, composed of i'our posts connected by horizontal side and end rails, 'mortised and tenoned together, having leaves B, hinged or otherwise attached to the four sides, forming, when let down, sides to the external desk or escritoire,` and when raised, as represented in Fig. 2, tables or desks for writing, drawing, and other purposes, the said leaves being heldin a horizontal position by horizontal-sliding rests or hinged supports of the usual form and construction as those used in common tables. The horizontal top board of the frame is perforated with a rectangular opening of size and shape corresponding with the size and shape of the top of the rising and falling desk or escritoire, which fits said opening exactlT when let down, as shown in Fig. l. \Vhen the side leaves, B B, are raised, they i'orm, with said tops ofthe external and in` ternal escritoires or desks, ahorizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 1. The insides of the eX- ternal frame are lined with vertical plates of metal, C, Fig. 3, perforated with .oblong slits D d, to admit right-angled turning-catches E', let into the sides of the rising and falling or folding desk or escritoire, for holding the movable desk at the height required, and also for holding it securely when let down into the frame of the external escritoire. The right-angled catches are rods of iron, E, bent at right angles at their lower ends, turning in staples F, inserted into the sides of the fold` ing escritoire, having their lower ends bent or turned at right angles, as above mentioned, for entering the slits D d in the aforesaid vertical plates, being held in that position by a horizontal spring-bar, S, Figs. 3 and 4, grooved at each end, and held by hooks h, let into` the sides of the escritoire, passing through said grooves, the said spring-bar pressing against a flattened part, c, of the rod E, so that when it is turned, in order to throw the catches out of the slits D d in the plate c, the iiattened portion bending the spring at the middle, whoseends are drawn inward and toward the catches E, at the same time slipping over the hooks 71, in which position it is held by a cord, H, attached to a crank, t2, on its upper end, passing horizontally through an aperture in the top of the desk, until the central escritoire or desk be slightly raised orlowered. The cord may then be slackcned, as the solid portions of the plates on the insides ofthe frame will keep the catches in a proper position until the upper slit comes opposite the catch, when it will be thrown into it by thespring-bar. Both sides of the escritoire or desk are provided with similarlyconstructed catches, cords, &c. The central folding desk may be raised by racks and pinions, cords, pulleys, and'axles or weights, or by any suitable mechanical means arranged in any convenient way. The rising and falling desk is divided throughout by vertical and horizontal partitions into various kinds of apartments for papers, drawings, and the several descriptions of writing and drawing implements used. It is to be made of anysuitable material and of any convenient size and proportion to suit the views of the constructer. The central desk, with its various appendages and Contents, may be balanced by a Weight Combining the internal eseritore with the eX# attached to one end of a oord carried over a ternal folding desk in the manner and for the pulley and attached to the top of the Central I 4purpose set forth.

desk and concealed from View, by which the desk may be raised and lowered by the ap- JOHN VHITE.

plieaton of very little power to the oord and \Vitnesses: desk. XVM. I. ELLIOT,

l Vhat I elalnl as my lnventlon7 and Wlnell A. E. H. JOHNSON. I desire to secure by Letters Patent, s- 

